The Role of Transnational City Networks in Promoting Sustainable Urban Food Strategies

The number of transnational city networks (TCNs) promoting sustainable urban food systems (SUFS) has grown significantly in recent years. This expansion reflects two significant trends: the pressing need to reform global food systems and the increasing involvement of cities as active agents in food governance. TCNs provide essential platforms for knowledge exchange, enabling cities to share good practices, learn from each other and develop innovative approaches to address common challenges. In addition to knowledge sharing, TCNs are key in forming coalitions strategically positioned to obtain funding, particularly through public calls and international grants. This paper presents the results of an extensive mapping exercise that analysed five major TCNs focused on food systems and their member cities. It investigates the relationship between participation in these voluntary frameworks and the adoption of sustainable food policies, with the aim of understanding how transnational engagement shapes urban food governance. By examining the dynamics of collaboration, the study explores the role of TCNs as catalysts of policy innovation and enablers of participatory governance mechanisms. The research is guided by two key hypotheses: (H1) cities that participate in transnational networks present more articulated food policies and (H2) engagement in these networks increases cities' capacity to promote democratic food governance. These hypotheses highlight the dual impact of transnational networks on improving the content and inclusiveness of urban food policies. The study contributes to the broader discourse on networked governance by demonstrating how TCNs address global challenges at the local level, particularly in the complex, cross-sectoral domain of food systems. By mapping the relationships between TCN membership, policy innovation, and participatory processes, the paper offers valuable insights into cities' transformative potential in promoting sustainable urban food strategies.